Variable-speed gear and reversing mechanism.



No 848,244. PATENTEDMAR. 26, 1907.

7 W. H. HORSTMANN.

VARIABLELSPEED GEAR AND REVERSING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1906.

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' Wi 11 eoaea No. 848,244. PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

W. H. HORSTMANN.

VARIABLE SPEED GEAR AND REVERSING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-27, 190s. 2 SHBBTSSHBET 2.

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IVILLIAM H. HORSTMANN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VARIABLE-SPEED GEAR AND REVERSING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. lvIarCn 26, 1907.

Application filed June 27, 1906. Serial No. 323.589.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HORST- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Speed Gear and Reversing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a combined variable-speed gear and reversing mechanism.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of change-gear and reversing mechanism which will furnish the required number of forward speeds with a minimum amount of friction.

It is also my object to simplify and improve the construction where a counter-shaft is employed and provision made for a direct drive between the engine-shaft and driven shaft.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, I have shown my invention adapted to a motor-vehicle, in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing an underframe of a vehicle with my invention applied. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection taken on the axial line of the driven shaft. Fig. 4 is a view looking to the inside of the forward-speed brake-drums. Fig. 5 is a view looking to the inside of the reverse brake-drum. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the large driving gear-wheels detached carrying orbital pinions on each side.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A denotes the driving-shaft, and A a spur-wheel keyed to said shaft, having a female clutch A fast thereto or formed integral with the hub.

B denotes the driven shaft, one end of which turns freely in the recessed end of the driving-shaft. The opposite end of shaft B carries the usual sprocket-wheel B.

C denotes a double-faced male clutch, which registers with clutch A and is splined to shaft B, on which it slides.

D denotes a sleeve loosely mounted on shaft B, provided with a female clutch d, which registers with clutch C. d (Z d (1 denote spur-gears fast to said sleeve.

E and F denote two large gear-wheels loosely mounted on sleeve D, the former placed between spurs d and (Z and the latter between spurs d and d The Wheel E is provided on one side with. stud-axles carrying orbital pinions e, which mesh with spur d. On its opposite side wheel E is provided with stud-axles which carry orbital pinions e, which mesh with spur (Z The wheel F is provided on one side with stud-axles carrying orbital pinionsf, while on its opposite side it is provided with a series of stud-axles carrying trains of orbital pinions composed of pinionsff G G G (l denote four internally-geared drums loosely mounted on sleeve I), the drums G G being placed on opposite sides of gear-wheel E and the drums G G on opposite sides of wheel F. The drum G meshes with pinion e, and the drum G meshes with pinion c. The drum Gr meshes with pinion f, and the drum G meshes with pinionf.

Ii denotes a double-acting shift-arm whicl simultaneously operates C and 7c. Said arm is pivoted midway of its length to the underframe at a point equidistant from the driven shaft and counter-shaft. It is provided at each end with spanners Z Z, which ride in annular grooves in said clutches.

M denotes a post rigidly fastened at its lower end to the shift-arm, directly over the pivotal point thereof, and m denotes a handwheel for operating said post. This post may be placd in juxtaposition to or inclosed with a steering-pillow (not shown) to meet the convenience of the driver or operator.

It will be seen that my invention provides for a direct drive from the engine or drivingshaft to the driven shaft without the intervention of gearing or bringing into play the countersl1aft, thus avoiding friction and consequent loss of power when running at engine speed. To obtain this direct drive, the clutch O on the driven shaft is thrown to the left and engages clutch A thus connecting the driving and driven shafts and simultaneously releasing the counter-shaft by disen- IIO G gives the low forward speed. The two ternal gear meshing with said orbital pinions gaging clutches 7c This arrangement of the clutches C and A and clutches 7c it also provides for running the motor or engine independently of the driven shaft, which is necessary where an explosive-engine s used. To effect this, the clutch C is thrown midway between clutches A and d, as shown in Fig. 1.

My invention also provides besides the engine speed three forward speeds, thus affordino' four forward speeds and a reverse. To eif ect these changes, the counter-shaft is brought into play by throwing clutch lc in engagement with clutch W. This action simultaneously throws clutch C in engagement with clutch (1, thereby locking sleeve D to the driven shaft. Spur-gears 7c on countershaft actuate gear-wheels E F.

The lowest forward speed and the reverse are effected by the gear-wheel F, carrying orbital pinions f on its left side, with spurwheel (Z and orbital pinionsf f on its right side in mesh with. s ursgear d together with internally-geared rurns G G, arranged on opposite sides of wheel E and meshing, respectively, with orbital pinions and f. The drum G gives the reverse, while the drum next highest speeds are effected by the gearwheel E, carrying on its right side orbital pinions e in mesh with spur-gear d and on its left side orbital pinion e in mesh with spurgear (1 together with the internally geared drums G and G, arranged on opposite sides of wheel E and meshing, respectively, with orbital pinions e and e. A suitable gear-case (not shown) may be provided to inclose the change-speed gear. The relative proportions of the gear-wheels, spur-gears, pinions, and orbital pinions may be varied to suit requirements without departing from the gist of my invention.

Having thus shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to-secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In areversing mechanism, the combination of the driving-shaft, the driven shaft, means for detachably connecting said shafts, a sleeve loosely mounted on the driven shaft, means for detachably connecting said sleeve to the driven shaft, a spur-gear fast to said sleeve, a gear-wheel loosely mounted on said sleeve, means for operating said gearavheel, a reversing-train of orbital pinions mounted on stud-axles on said gear-wheel and in mesh with said spur-gear, a brake-drum loosely mounted on said sleeve provided with an inand a brake for said drum.

2. In a change-speed and reversing mechanism, the combination of the driving-shaft, the driven shaft, means for detachably con necting said shafts, a sleeve loosely mounted on the driven shaft, means for detachably connecting said sleeve to the driven shaft, a plurality of spur-gears fast to said sleeve. a 1

gear-wheel loosely mounted on said sleeve between said spur-gears, means for operating said gear-wheel, a reversing-train of orbital pinions mounted on stud-axles to one side of said gear-wheel and in mesh with one of said spur-gears, a change-speed orbital pinion mounted on a stud-axle on the opposite side of said gear-wheel and in mesh with the spurgear on that side, brake-drums loosely mounted on said sleeve upon opposite sides of said gearavheel provided with internal gears in mesh with the orbital pinions upon the corresponding side of said gear-wheel and brakes for said drums.

3. In a change-speed gear, the combination of the driving shaft, the driven shaft, means for detachably connecting said shafts, a sleeve mounted loosely on the driven shaft, a plurality of spur-gears fixed to said sleeve, ge ar-wheels mounted loosely upon said sleeve between said spur-gears provided upon each side with stud-axles, orbital pinions mounted upon said stud-aXles meshing with said spurgears, internally-geared brake-drums mounted loosely upon said sleeve on opposite sides of said gear-wheels and meshing with said spurgears, brakes for said drums, a counter-shaft, spur-gears mounted on said counter-shaft in mesh with said gear-wheels, means for .de tachably connecting the counter-shaft to the driving-shaft.

4. In a change-speed gear, the combination of the driving-shaft, the driven shaft, the counter-shaft, a spur-wheel keyed to the driv ing-shaft provided with a clutch member, a pinion loose on the counter-shaft in mesh with said spur-wheel and provided with a clutch member, a sleeve loosely mounted on the driven shaft having a clutch member, a double-faced clutch member splined to the driven shaft, a clutch member splined to the counter-shaft, a pivoted shift-arm adapted to operate said splined clutch members, spurgears fast to said sleeve, gear-wheels mounted loosely on said sleeve, spur-gears mounted on the counter-shaft in mesh with said gearwheels, orbital pinions mounted on said gearwheels and in mesh with the spur-gears on said sleeve, the internally-geared brakedrums mounted loosely on said sleeve meshing with said orbital pinions, and bandbrakes for said drums.

5. In a change-speed gear, the combina tion of the driving-shaft, the driven shaft, the counter-shaft, the sleeve loosely mounted on the driven shaft, spur gears fast to said sleeve, the gear-wheels loosely mounted on said sleeve, orbital pinions mounted on opposite sides of said gear-wheels meshing with said spur gears, internally geared brakedrums loosely mounted on said sleeve meshing with said orbital pinions, brakes for said drums, spur-gears on the counter-shaft meshing with said gearwheels, means for detachably connecting said sleeve to the driven ITO shaft, means for detachably connecting the driving and driven shafts, means for detachably connecting the driving and counter shafts.

6. In a change-speed gear, the combination with the driving-shaft, driven shaft,

counter shaft, power transmitting sleeve loosely mounted on the driven shaft provided with a clutch member, of the clutch member on the driving-shaft, the double-faced sliding clutch on the driven shaft adapted to engage said clutches, the plmon loosely mounted on the counter-shaft having a clutch member, the sliding clutch member splined to the counter-shaft registering With said pinions clutch member, and the pivoted shift-arm adapted to actuate said clutch members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM H. HORSTMANN.

Witnesses .ANNETTA SMITH, GEO. L. CRAWFORD. 

